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the number I did not particularly reckon ; and as it was in the 

 middle of 0<ftober, and the weather growing cold, on the fourth 

 day after the firft egg was laid, I put the tube into a leather cafe, 

 and carried it in my pocket, to fee what time the eggs would re- 

 quire to produce young Mites. On the eighth day I faw a young 

 Mite, and the following day three fmall Mites creeping about the 

 glafs, and then I faw only oTxe of the Mites I had put into the 

 glafs remaining alive; and, upon minutely examining thole that were 

 dead, I judged that they had been almoft wholly devoured by the 

 furvivors. The next day I faw five or fix fmall Mites, but I was 

 furprifed to fee thofe young Mites had only fix feet, whereas thofe 

 which were grown larger had eight. 



By the microfcope I every day examined the eggs, and when they 

 were about four days old, I could diftinguifh the fruitful from the 

 barren ones ; thofe which I deemed fruitful were of a dark colour 

 throughout, whereas the barren ones were one half dark and half 

 tranfparent, which tranfparency was occafioned by the globules 

 which compofed the egg having funk to the bottom. Afterwards 

 I faw that from all thofe eggs which had remained dark through- 

 out, the young Mites had crept out, leaving nothing but the fhell 

 behind them ; whereas thofe eggs which were in part tranfparent, 

 remained entire. 



Not fatisfied with thefe obfervations, I took feveral glafs tubes, into 

 each of which I put fome fmall pieces of dried fifli, and thefe tubes 

 being clofed at one extremity, I placed the open ends near a bag of 

 meal, in which I was certain there were many Mites, in order that 

 the Mites might of themfelves, without being hurt, or being mixed 

 with any dirt, remove into thefe glafs tubes to the pieces ot fiili, 

 which accordingly came to pafs ; for, the next morning, I found in 

 fome of the tubes fifty Mites, as well large as fmall ones, and fome 

 fo minute, that they feemed to be newly hatched, and had only 

 fix f et. 



In order that thefe Mites might not want air, I clofed the ori- 



Y2 



